DCLG Press Release on Brownfield Land

DCLG Lets be clear only the principal of the use will be pre-approved not the reserved matters, unless the LDO to use international urban planning terminology has a masterplan with platting, subdivisions, bulk zoning, build to lines and a development control regulations plan to determine the form and layout of the housing and other uses. Now we know from international experience that once these are in place they new development can proceed very quickly if the landowners release it, such as where land ownership is not concentrated. But preparing the regs takes more up front effort, so is not necessarily quicker. Though it certainly is less of a burden than dealing with container crate large planning applications, and possibly quicker, if London and other large authorities can turn on a dime and switch from a development management focus to a development times to greenflield sites being master plan led as well. Indeed the only thing that might save a plan led system is if such masterplan led planning can be shown to work, as it does on the continent and in every country that makes planning work (of which it hasn’t in England for 20 years and which all political parties except UKIP has lost patience at national level with ever making it work).

Thousands of new homes will be built on unused and previously-developed land under the government’s plans to make it easier to build on brownfield sites suitable for housing.

Ministers are clear of the need to make the best possible use of brownfield land in a way that keeps strong safeguards in place that protect our valued countryside.

Councils will play a critical role in bringing forward brownfield land and will be asked to put in place local development orders which can provide sites with outline planning permission to speed up the building of new homes.

This could provide up to 200,000 permissions for new homes by 2020. In addition, 20 new housing zones on this brownfield land in London will benefit from £400 million funding from the government and the Greater London Authority.

There will be £200 million of additional government funding available for 10 zones outside London.

Speaking at Mansion House, Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne said:

We have beautiful landscapes, and they too are part of the inheritance of the next generation. To preserve them, we must make other compromises. If we want to limit development on important green spaces, we have to remove all the obstacles that remain to development on brown field sites.

Today we do that with these radical steps, putting local development orders on over 90% of brownfield sites that are suitable for housing. This urban planning revolution will mean that in effect development on these sites will be pre-approved – local authorities will be able to specify the type of housing. And it will mean planning permission for up to 200,000 new homes – while at the same time protecting our green spaces.

The Chancellor went on to say:

I suspect there will be people who object to new building, even on the brownfields of our cities. But let me be clear.

I will not stand by and allow this generation, many of whom have been fortunate enough to own their own home, to say to the next generation: we’re pulling up the property ladder behind us. So we will build the houses Britain needs so that more families can have the economic security that comes with home ownership.

And today I will give the Bank of England the powers it needs over mortgages, so that Britain’s economic stability always comes first. And that is what our long term economic plan is delivering.

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles said:

We’re determined to make the very best use of derelict land and former industrial sites to provide the homes this country desperately needs in a way that protects our valued countryside. By ensuring commitments to housing development are in place early and having dedicated housing zones, building becomes, quicker and easier for homebuilders, businesses and councils.

Unlocking brownfield land for new homes

There is enough previously-developed, brownfield land to deliver of up to 200,000 new homes across the country.

With the need to get Britain building as part of the government’s wider long-term economic plan, ministers are determined to pull out all the stops to get planning permissions granted and work started on these new homes as soon as possible.

Ministers will look to councils to consult on and make local development orders – which are a flexible way to grant planning permission – on brownfield land that is suitable for housing in their area. These can set out the amount and type of housing that can be built on sites and assist developers working up suitable schemes to get work started on site quicker. And a new £5 million fund will be launched before the summer to support the first wave of new local development orders.

The government will invite bids for funding for housing zones outside of London later this year.

Key safeguards will remain in place – as with any planning application councils will need to take account of the views of local people, and the housing needs of their communities.

Ministers want to see permissions for homes in place on more than 90% of suitable brownfield land by 2020 and will be consulting on measures to underpin this ambition.

Getting London building

With the need for housing particularly acute in and around London, ministers today also outlined plans to give the Mayor greater powers to deliver new homes.

Of the £400 million government funding available, £200 million will be allocated to and matched by the Greater London Assembly and be put towards delivering 20 new housing zones in the Capital. The Mayor will also be offered powers to drive forward local development orders in those areas to get work speeded up.

Where London boroughs are slow to get their local plans in place, the Mayor will also have new powers to intervene. The Mayor will also have the power to call in developments of 100 or more homes where there are delays – currently this is only possible on sites of over 150 homes.

Regenerating run-down estates

Ministers also want to ensure that, as well as making the best use of brownfield land, existing housing estates in need of large-scale regeneration also get the attention they deserve.

Such a move has the potential to deliver additional new homes on existing land. For example, London’s inner boroughs will contain 1.7 million fewer people than they did in 1911 – despite record numbers of people expected to be living in the Capital by 2021.

Today, a new prospectus outlines how developers can bid for a share of a £150 million loan fund to invest in kick-starting and accelerating the radical regeneration of some of the country’s most deprived social housing estates. Projects that look to completely transform these estates could receive a share of the funding, with the aim that schemes will increase the numbers of properties available, improve the quality of the properties and create more potential for private investment.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson said:

This estate regeneration fund will allow us to provide wonderful new homes for existing residents and radically improve the quality of housing in many neglected communities. We want to create welcoming neighbourhoods in which people aspire to live all across the capital. Many of our estates date back to the 1960s and it is high time that they received a new lease of life and I urge developers to apply for the funding and get building.

The Grasslands Trust team blog about nature conservation and broader environmental issues, always with a focus on our threatened grassland habitats. The views in this blog do not necessarily reflect those of the Trust.